Author: Ritu Sarin
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: June 6, 2011
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/week-ago-home-delhi-police-told-govt-look-at-plan-to-stop-the-ramdev-show/799819/
The Union Home Ministry and the Delhi Police
had discussed an action plan, including eviction and cancellation of permissions,
against Baba Ramdev's congregations in the capital a full week before the
early morning "raid" on June 5.
Confidential letters written by Home Secretary
G K Pillai and B S Brar, Delhi's Special Commissioner (intelligence) to the
Cabinet Secretary on May 28, accessed by The Indian Express, reveal that the
Government was fully aware that grand preparations were being made at the
Ramlila Maidan were for an estimated 30,000 people while permission had been
granted for only 5,000.
In writing, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar
was given the "option" of cancelling the permission given to Baba
Ramdev both for holding a dharna (permission was taken only for 200 persons)
at Jantar Mantar as well as the Yoga Shivir at Ramlila Maidan.
The Home Secretary's letter had warned the
Government that while the Delhi unit of the Bharat Swabhiman Manch and the
Patanjali Yoga Samiti had obtained written permission for a Yoga Shivir and
dharna (after removing the reference to a fast), the two organisations had
jointly distributed leaflets calling for an indefinite "Bhrastachar Mitao
Satyagraha" at the Ramlila Maidan. The letter also pointed out to the
fact that the Haryana unit of the Bharat Swabhiman Trust had announced a "battle
cry" for a "major struggle against corruption and black money"
to coincide with Baba Ramdev's indefinite fast.
Both top officials attached copies of pamphlets
distributed by Ramdev in their communications to the Cabinet Secretary.
The Home Secretary had advised: "It is
the considered opinion of the MHA that it would be better to allow Baba Ramdev
to go ahead with the Yoga Shivir at the Ramlila Grounds. However, no permission
should be given for any dharna or fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar as it would
be difficult to control the crowds there....in case Baba Ramdev converts the
Yoga Shivir into a satyagrah or fast-unto-death at the Ramlila grounds a view
can be taken thereafter after assessing the local situation."
Thus, the Home Ministry's advice was to follow
a wait-and-watch policy. The letter concluded, "It is, therefore, suggested
that permission given at Jantar Mantar for holding dharna/ fast-unto-death
should be cancelled. In case Baba Ramdev decides to march to Jantar Mantar
on June 4 with his followers they could be detained and contained at the Ramlila
ground itself. A dharna at Ramlila ground could be better managed and controlled."
The Delhi Police Special Commissioner had
similarly warned that Baba Ramdev's followers had erected tents which can
accommodate 30,000 people and that "their actual intention is to sit
on indefinite fast against corruption...because of the free Yoga Camp he has
the ability to attract 25000/35000 persons to Ramlila grounds. However, his
committed followers are about 3000 who may join him for a prolonged dharna."
His letter to the Cabinet Secretary states,
"One option would be to cancel the permission at both Jantar Mantar as
well as Ramlila ground..." But this, he followed, may lead to people
attempting to converge at Ramlila Maidan on their own and may lead to "skirmishes
all over the city and at various borders and may attract wide media publicity..."
This is what Brar said was the "better
option": "to cancel the permission given at Jantar Mantar and permit
them to hold the Yoga Training Camp at Ramlila ground. In case Baba Ramdev
decides to march to Jantar Mantar on June 4, with his followers they can be
contained and detained at Ramlila ground itself. In case he decides to sit
on dharna/fast unto death at Ramlila Grounds itself, we can defer taking any
action till his followers thin down and then take appropriate action."
